London last day

So I’m sitting outside the London Science Museum waiting for it to open. Getting here, I just had a nice walk through Hyde Park from my Hotel. On the way I’ve seen lots of cyclists, joggers and moms pulling or sometimes pushing small children on scooters. Strangely I’ve not seen any roller blades, skateboards or roller skates.

Updated on the lack of skateboards, just saw a guy on one, and it was motorized so that may not really count.

The Science Museum was pretty cool, well the levels that were not crawling with school children.  I just avoided the floors that had the “hand’s on” activities.

Old Steam engine

Old Steam engine

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Examples of polyhedra

Examples of polyhedra

An old calculating machine

An old calculating machine

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The National Art Museum was very interesting.  I can see why some painters are famous.  Some of those paintings could pass for a photo from a distance.  Sadly you can’t take photos in the museum so I have nothing to show.  But I liked the work of Paul Ruben and Monet.  I bought a 95 piece puzzle of “Water lilies” by Monet. They have a cartoon by Da Vinci that seems to have been the beginnings of a painting idea that never got painted.  The painting “Sunflowers” by van Gogh was on loan to a Museum in Amsterdam. I only mention that cause of the van Gogh paintings in the museum, it was the only one I like 😦

View of Trafalgar Square from the steps of the Art Museum

View of Trafalgar Square from the steps of the Art Museum

 

On the way back from the Art Museum I tried to stop by and see Sherlock, but as you can see the queue was a bit long.

The line to get into 221B Baker Street.

The line to get into 221B Baker Street.

Published in: on July 8, 2013 at 3:03 am  Comments Off on London last day  
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Salisbury Plains

Today is the last day of the tour. We are heading to the Salisbury Plains and then London by 4pm. My trip won’t be over though, I still have an extra day in London before returning to the States. Time to see the other free museums of London, but more of that tomorrow.

First stop Glastonbury and King Arthur’s tomb (yeah right, it did today what it did in the past separated a pilgrim and his money and left it with the Abby.)

King Arthur's grave.

King Arthur’s grave.

Glastonbury Abby

Glastonbury Abby

Next stop Stonehenge.

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Stonehenge parking lot (will be gone by winter of 2013)

Stonehenge parking lot (will be gone by winter of 2013)

There is a new visitor center being built about half a mile up the road.  This old one is going to be torn up and then grassed over to resort more of the original circle of Stonehenge.  Its scheduled to be open the Winter of 2013.  There will be a shuttle bus  that takes you to the site.  If you plan on trying to get into the stone circle, you are only allowed to do that during the summer or winter solstice.  You will just have to deal with the crazy druids preforming their “ancient rituals”.  Back in Glastonbury there was an actual witches store and more than 1 store that sold “magical” items.

Me in front of Stonehenge, hard to smile in the bright sun.

Me in front of Stonehenge, hard to smile in the bright sun.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

I think this is the location of the Summer Solstice.

I think this is the location of the Summer Solstice.

The spacing of each archway coincides with the sun rising between the opening of each month.

5468 km traveled as the trip comes to an end.

Published in: on July 7, 2013 at 1:01 am  Comments Off on Salisbury Plains  
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Plymouth

Here is the hotel in Exeter followed by a gray squirrel I saw running around the garden

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Day 2 in Exeter has us traveling to Plymouth.

Plymouth Bay

Plymouth Bay

Location of the pier the Mayflower left from in Plymouth

Location of the pier the Mayflower left from in Plymouth

light house at Plymouth Hoe Park

light house at Plymouth Hoe Park

 

Looe for lunch. A nice small beach and a beautiful Saturday to enjoy it.

Roadway arch by the beach in Looe

Roadway arch by the beach in Looe

 

Stopped near a place called Pillar Bridge for some drinks.

Pillar Bridge

Pillar Bridge

purple flower near Pillar Bridge

purple flower near Pillar Bridge

 

On to Dartmoor to get some photos of Dartmoor ponies. They are free range horses that as you can see will come right up to the coach.  There were also hairy cows and sheep roaming free along the road.

This mare wanted to get onto the coach and come back to the hotel with us.

This mare wanted to get onto the coach and come back to the hotel with us.

Free ranging horses in Dartmoor

Free ranging horses in Dartmoor

Published in: on July 6, 2013 at 1:58 am  Comments Off on Plymouth  
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Exeter Day 1

Leaving for Exeter today which is south west of Cardiff. Sadly I didn’t get to see Torchwood nor did I spot the Tardis

First stop this morning is Bath well our stop is more of a traffic jam at the moment.
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Finally made it. All I can say, the Romans were very good engineers to build a huge bathing complex around a small natural hot spring.

View from bath level

View from bath level

View of bath from level above

View of bath from level above

The area over the entrance to the bath

The area over the entrance to the bath

The remaining head of the statue of the goddess of the bath

The remaining head of the statue of the goddess of the bath

The Abby across from the Roman Bath ruins

Me in front of Bath Abby

Me in front of Bath Abby

Bath Abby

Bath Abby

Dinner tonight at the restaurant was grilled salmon.  Over my 3 weeks here in the UK and Ireland I’ve noticed that some sort of fish is always one of the main or first course dishes at all meals.  Wonder if that has to do with these countries being an island? 😉

 

Published in: on July 5, 2013 at 2:18 am  Comments Off on Exeter Day 1  
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Chester and more

Well I’m in England again but it was just for the night. Cardiff today, but first a tour of Chester
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and some ancient Roman sites.

Ruins of Ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Chester

Ruins of Ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Chester

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Lunch in Ludlow

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Walking back to the coach, I was blessed by a bird from the heavens. 😦 So I bought some chocolate to forget the bombardment

Chocolate Cow :)

Chocolate Cow 🙂

 

 

On to Cardiff
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Farm land

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View from my room

Dinner tonight at a castle.
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Ceiling of Upper chamber of Cardiff Castle Clock Tower

Ceiling of Upper chamber of Cardiff Castle Clock Tower

Floor of upper room of Cardiff Castle Clock Tower

Floor of upper room of Cardiff Castle Clock Tower

 

Entertainers from Cardiff Castle Banquet

Entertainers from Cardiff Castle Banquet

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle

 

Published in: on July 4, 2013 at 1:47 am  Comments Off on Chester and more  
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To Wales

Hopping a ferry this morning heading to Wales. My mobile data will work again 🙂 and Stonehenge is sometime in the next few days.

Stopped at the longest named train station.

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Lunch in Caernarfon.
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Off to Chester.

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There are more photos related to the above ale.

View of the river from the Corn Mill Bar

View of the river from the Corn Mill Bar

Upstream from the Corn Mill Bar

Upstream from the Corn Mill Bar

Old Fort viewable from the Corn Mill Bar

Old Fort viewable from the Corn Mill Bar

Close up of water at the Corn Mill Bar

Close up of water at the Corn Mill Bar

 

We stayed at The Queen hotel in Chester.
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Saw a working Roman aqueduct.

Roman Canal System

Roman Canal System

Boat navigating the Roman Aqueduct

Boat navigating the Roman Aqueduct

Roman Aqueduct 100s of feet above a river

Roman Aqueduct 100s of feet above a river

The Horseshoe pass.

View from above Horseshoe Pass

View from above Horseshoe Pass

Horseshoe Pass

Horseshoe Pass

Published in: on July 3, 2013 at 12:07 am  Comments Off on To Wales  
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Dublin Day 2

Off for a tour of Dublin via the coach.

Bridge in the shape of a harp in Dublin

Bridge in the shape of a harp in Dublin

 

Book of Kells, which is a very old manuscript of the Bible. (sadly no cameras are allowed )

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Library at Trinity University in Dublin

Library at Trinity University in Dublin

 

This afternoon (12:15 pm) is the tour of the Guinness brewery.
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Went to the Irish History Museum

More Swords

More Swords

Ancient spurs.

Ancient spurs.

Sword display at museum

Sword display at museum

 

And the Natural History Museum

Leaving Ireland tomorrow and heading to Wales. One thing I’ve learned is a pint of Guinness is cheaper the farther you are from Dublin.

Published in: on July 2, 2013 at 2:27 am  Comments Off on Dublin Day 2  
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Dublin Day 1

Heading to Dublin for a two day stay.

But first a tour of the Waterford Crystal showroom.

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Crystal clock

Crystal clock

Waterford seahorse logo.  Notice the clover design in the tail

Waterford seahorse logo. Notice the clover design in the tail

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Got to hold the football that is part of the college bowl trophy.

Me holding a BCS Trophy football

Me holding a BCS Trophy football

 

Lunch in Kilkenny

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In Dublin and finally a hotel with a mini fridge.

Published in: on July 1, 2013 at 3:55 am  Comments Off on Dublin Day 1  
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Waterford

Heading to Waterford today.

I downloaded an offline gps map app. Giving it a test while here also switched back to my galaxy s3.

Pictures and updates at the next free wifi I find.

First stop is Blarney Castle. And no I’m not going to kiss the blarney stone; that has to be the most unsanitary spot in Ireland.

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Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle

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Blarney Stone from ground level.

Blarney Stone from ground level.

Blarney Stone up close.

Blarney Stone up close.

At the Blarney Castle is a garden of poisonous plants guess what was in the garden…

What the hell? Is that marijuana?

What the hell? Is that marijuana?

Took the stout challenge at the Mill bar and got the 3 samples right. Beamish was the best of the 3, and being so close to Cork you really can’t get Guinnes they make Bemish here. Think of it as a Bub vs Miller rivalry yet with good tasting drinks.

Hotel charges €4 for Internet access and the signal in my room is crap. Will have to go looking for a coffee bar with free wifi.

This room here in Waterford has had the best view. My window is directly over the hotel entrance facing the river.
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Walking tour of the city very soon.

Published in: on June 30, 2013 at 1:28 am  Comments Off on Waterford  
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Killarney Day 2

Getting ready for breakfast. Today we are doing a 179km circular tour of the county, called the ring of Kerry.

Stopped at a shop called Macken of Ireland for an irish coffee and some shopping. The coffee was not the best even if it had a dram of whiskey in it. The place had some very nice jewelry. I just bought some polo shirts with Ireland logo on them.

Old ring house/fort.
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Note: add above view of a ring fort

Stopped for a potty break at Waterville.
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Photo op of irish coast from a high vantage point, in fact we are in a cloud atm

Costal bay in Ireland

Costal bay in Ireland

Lunch at a B&B in Sneem . Why must all sandwichs come smothered in mayo. 😦 The fresh scones made up for the mayo.
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Water fall in Sneem

Water fall in Sneem

Street in Sneem

Street in Sneem

180° view from the Ladies Viewpoint.
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Published in: on June 29, 2013 at 1:25 am  Comments Off on Killarney Day 2  
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